By Mark Zimmer
Tesla reservation holders are currently experiencing a “Get Amped” tour in 15 cities to test drive Model S. The plan is for 5,000 test drives and then to send the test drive vehicles to Tesla retail stores after the tour.
Driving from San Diego’s Comic Con to Oklahoma City gave me the opportunity to stop in Scottsdale, Ariz. and experience driving a Performance Model S and to visit the new Scottsdale Fashion Square store that opened on July 13. My number one desire was to compare Tesla Model S with the Chevrolet Volt that I enjoyed for over a year.
The new store is located across from the Microsoft Store. The two complement each other providing an “Apple Store” like learning environment to choose technology that best fits the consumer. The employees at both locations were knowledgeable and friendly.
An unusual situation occurred on the first weekend while Tesla was waiting for final approval. No onsite sales were allowed until all the legal documents for the store were completed.
While reservations were set by time, a last minute change was possible to drive the Performance model. Each participant was given a number while in the store and waited to be personally escorted to the covered valet parking area. Misting systems gave the arriving Model S a foggy day appearance during the extremely hot and dry conditions.
After a quick instruction session about the shifter and controls, the drive consisted of various speeds on rough and smooth surfaces for several miles of roads between the mall and freeway. One navigation error I made allowed me to take a U-turn, normally not a part of the test drive. The turning radius was adequate, but not tight. Turning Model S feels most unique, as the car does remain level. The tires felt like they might wear in turns, but that was just my imagination with the feel of the steering. The huge surprise was no creep after putting the car into drive. I liked it. Since there were no hills on the test drive, I could not test if the vehicle would move backwards while stopped in drive.
Overall the driving experience was a joy. The vision through the front window is wider than the Volt and is a major improvement for me. The larger size of Model S felt great and the car was easy to drive. The shifter on the right steering stalk is down for drive, up for reverse and press the chrome end in for park. The letters PRND show in the dash display where “Car Off” appears in the photo. The seat was surprisingly comfortable and should be perfect for longer drives that a 300 mile range makes possible.
Acceleration did not seem breathtaking at first since I was leaning forward to compensate for what I thought would be a “rocket like” take off. The tires did not squeal when pressing the accelerator down firmly from a standing start. That is due to the superbly controlled torque that prevented tire squeal from happening. The speed of acceleration became luxurious with the large padded steering wheel, a perfectly fitting seat back and the extremely quiet interior. Seeing the speedometer zoom up to 60 after 4.4 seconds was breathtaking. The electric motor or electronics make a noticeable tone during heavy acceleration. While driving on a side road, I was able to accelerate to the test drive controlled speed of 80 and back down to 50 very quickly. The regeneration braking seemed less than “L” on the Volt, but not by much. It is adjustable to be more like “D” if desired by accessing a touch screen control on the 17″ screen. I look forward to driving an EV again.
The one time Model S had a rough sport car feel was during a repaired road area when vertical motion transferred through to the 21 inch Performance wheels and tires. The bumps were softened by the suspension and was a much better feel than my 2004 Cadillac XLR.
I do have concerns in several areas. The number one distraction is a strip of distortion across the lower middle of the rear window. While the photo looking through the rear view mirror looks fine at first glance, notice the distortion of the dashed white lines and red curb. This is very noticeable while the car is in motion, that some reviewers have compared with a distorted fun house mirror.
Another concern occurred when braking was reduced at one stop. I had failed to move my foot to the center of the brake pedal and was pressing the accelerator at the same time. GM vehicles have the brake pedal closer to the driver and force the driver to lift the foot rather than sliding the foot over to the brake pedal. A thick rubber cover on this brake pedal might help the situation. For GM drivers, an annoyance could be the two left side steering wheel stalks. The lower one is for the turn signal, but the location is much lower than a GM vehicle. I found myself accidentally using the upper cruise control stalk several times. Finally, the front cup holder is under the center arm rest and too far back compared with most other cars. This can be solved with the future “opportunity console” that will allow a customer reconfiguration of the carpeted area between the arm rest and touch screen.
Tesla is running its production line slowly during July. That should allow time to make changes that might be necessary. All of my concerns may be addressed before the production car is delivered in September. The Performance model will have a top speed of 130 mph that I don’t intend to test! A detailed report and answers to your questions can occur after the car is delivered. Until then I suggest visiting Tesla’s web site for the latest details about Model S. The Enthusiasts Forum section on their site features the latest news from the owners and buyers.
This entry was posted on Friday, July 20th, 2012 at 5:55 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+1
Jul 20th, 2012 (6:44 am)Great report!
My dodge has the turn signal and cruise stalks set up almost exactly like this. It’s one of those things that you get accustomed to after a couple weeks.
Any more details about the instruments? Does the car have ‘analog’ gauges?
+3
Jul 20th, 2012 (6:57 am)Nice report. I’ve heard from one of the first owners that “The car is amazing. Nothing like it on earth.” He would know, as he has driven plenty of nice cars. While I truly love my 2011 Volt, I can’t wait to see where this all is going. It reminds me of when the first real cell phones came out–you just knew they were going to get more and more amazing.
+3
Jul 20th, 2012 (8:34 am)“Misting systems gave the arriving Model S a foggy day appearance during the extremely hot and dry conditions.”
————–
When I first saw that photo, it thought you had done a burn-out.
+2
Jul 20th, 2012 (8:36 am)Is the graph correct, where it says the car averaged 439W/mile? Seems high.
+5
Jul 20th, 2012 (8:55 am)It is high, but I imagine every driver was seeing just how fast their 0-60 time would be. I always hate it when a magazine says “We only got x mpg!” And then the article says that they were driving ‘spiritedly’ and doing slalom courses, 0-60′s and drove it on the track as well…
kdawg,
+2
Jul 20th, 2012 (9:09 am)The way they were driving it – sounds about right. Some 0-60 4.4 sec runs will cause those big peaks and high averages.
+1
Jul 20th, 2012 (9:14 am)Tesla in the news….
Is Tesla’s Road to Production Rocky?
By Chris Ciaccia 07/18/12 – 10:15 AM EDT1 CommentAdd Comment
NEW YORK (TheStreet) — Despite all the hoopla and positive press Tesla Motors(TSLA_) received for the Model S launch, reports of production being pushed out is driving shares down a long, winding road of uncertainty.
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11622355/1/is-teslas-road-to-production-rocky.html
+3
Jul 20th, 2012 (9:17 am)Good questions. I am not sure about the analog displays as older photos on the web show some dual analog displays on the drivers LCD. I have not noticed the analog view at the stores in recent visits.
The high watt hour graph is from the test drive activity from the last driver. It shows a bit of regen and a whole lot of acceleration. There are 263 miles of charge left and there were about 4 test drivers who had driven that morning. I was paying more attention to the road and the speed of the car rather than economy during the drive.
One subject I forgot to mention is the air conditioning. With the hot temperatures the AC worked fine. Fan speed was at 3 with a maximum setting of 7. There was some fan noise at the 3 setting while parked. I did not pay attention to that noise level during the drive.
Normally I wear musicians ear plugs while driving. I removed them for the Tesla drive event and was surprised by the low noise level of the car. No music was played to hear just how quiet the car is. The tone of the motor is the only unique sound i noticed during extreme acceleration. It should serve as an audible “warning” of excessive battery usage.
Jul 20th, 2012 (9:19 am)I love the look of this car. I’ll be eager to test drive what ever comes after the Model S and the Model X. Like the Volt, both are just more than I care to spend on a car. Looks like my Buick will be 14 years old by the time I can buy any of these.
No plug, no genset, no sale.
+2
Jul 20th, 2012 (9:19 am)I wish them all luck with this and wonder how much testing was done before sales start compared to the volt .
Tom
+3
Jul 20th, 2012 (9:41 am)Interesting that Tesla would pick Flagstaff for the tour . Being an Arizona resident I can’t see “Flag” as much of a hot spot for electric vehicles. I guess it must be because it’s so miserably hot in Phoenix that no one likes to be outside for more than about 2 minutes “down there”.
I’ll be riding my motorcycle thru Flag this Sunday. Maybe the exhibit will still be there and I can catch a glimpse of this great car>> I wonder how it will compare price wise to the ELR.
Thanks for the Article Mark!!
Jul 20th, 2012 (9:56 am)Mark – how did you like/dislike using a big touchscreen for the center console instead of physical buttons? People complain about the Volt’s buttons, but at least they have tactile feedback. I deal with touchscreens for a living, so I don’t think I’d have issues, but others may.
Oh, and did anyone try sitting in the seats in the very back? I’ve seen them in person, but never tried sitting in one, esp. with the back hatch closed.
+1
Jul 20th, 2012 (10:23 am)February 2005…….barrel of crude …..$36……………..gas average $2.15/usgal give or take
February 2012…….barrel of crude……$100-$115…….gas average $3.59/usgal give or take
pop mechanix shows this week gas use in US down by 49% from Feb 2005 to Feb 2012
they say nobody can explain why…..
can anyone here ?
HaroldC
+1
Jul 20th, 2012 (10:34 am)“The regeneration braking seemed less than “L” on the Volt, but not by much.”
It’s great seeing the comparison of publicly available EV. This was a shaky dream just 4 years ago. I notice Tesla stock is doing well. Seems to be the darling of EV lovers.
+4
Jul 20th, 2012 (10:50 am)1) The economy was in much better shape. Although 2005 was after the internet bubble burst, the housing bubble was much worse in 2008-2009.
2) Along with the economy is unemployment. With hundreds of thousands more people out of work, there’s less commuting and shopping miles driven.
3) Many people getting rid of their gas-guzzlers for something more practical (recall the cash-for-clunkers program several years ago).
4) Last, but not least, there’s one particular vehicle that’s saved about 3.4 million gallons (as of today).
To name just a few….
Jul 20th, 2012 (11:08 am)Never did touch the screen during the drive. The Tesla sales representative in the passenger seat was able to make any changes necessary. A regeneration setting was demonstrated at one point, but I would want learn the screen controls in a parked car before attempting the activity on city streets.
The screen can be accessed in the showroom models. The placement of topics at the top of the screen and the “always on” settings on the bottom appear to have good human engineering. Early versions were far more complex. With the lack of tactile feedback, the steering wheel controls should be very popular with Model S drivers.
Hopefully drivers will not stare too long at the screen in heavy traffic or on a fast highway. The amount of time it takes to find a control or a map location could have devastating results. The addition of voice control in the future has been mentioned by Tesla.
With over 250 stores, the extremely upscale Scottsdale Fashion Square is a great place for Tesla to have their retail location. The store opened a week ago today.
Jul 20th, 2012 (11:15 am)Developing a car is an enormous task. Tesla is to be commended for doing as much as it has. On balance Tesla made the right decision to go totally electric. It’s a whole lot easier than trying to do an EREV, as you can see from looking at all the problems that Fisker has had, and Fisker strikes me as a better run company from an engineering standpoint than Tesla. I wouldn’t expect the Model S to be as trouble free as say the Nissan Leaf.
I’m not a fan of the acceleration either. Yeah it’s cheap way to tart the car up, and it’s quite simple to make an electric car go fast so long as you don’t care about battery life. The Panasonic cells being used in the Tesla have fairly poor cycle life already — 300 cycles take out about 20% — and consistently running them above 1C isn’t going to make that any better. Note that the acceleration numbers don’t hold for the base model with the smaller battery packs.
My bigger problem with the Model S is that its size and luxury are a mismatch for its limited range. It’s a huge and expensive commuter car. Definitely overkill for most people, especially at prices that will start at $65K once you add some basic options (hard to see someone getting a Model S without leather seats). Where you really could use all the luxury of a quiet smooth ride is on longer trips. But without any realistic infrastructure and the long charging times the Model S is not suitable for longer drives. I have a friend who has a long 70+ mile commute who might want this car, but other than that I’m scratching my head. In this regard the Roadster seems a far better fit for the market than the Model S.
Jul 20th, 2012 (11:23 am)Kent,
gee,l wonder what vehicle…..lol….
but don’t you think that cutting gas usage by nearly 50% should have helped keek the price down ?
or has it ? at one time l would have thought that cutting gas consumption in half would end up in
nearly half of the stations going under and the gasoline giant in dire straights….but they are
making ridiculous profits anyway…..go figgur !
HaroldC
+1
Jul 20th, 2012 (11:35 am)HaroldC,
Cost to produce and deliver oil is subtracted from the “profit” collected by selling it. What’s left is the profit margin. Compare this to some other industries, and you could be surprised. As for the actual figure, don’t forget what a huge market is involved, or the number of investors there are (including millions who have money in retirement funds).
+1
Jul 20th, 2012 (11:39 am)HaroldC,
Generally, reducing demand (or consumption) would reduce prices, but gas is a global product and since the US has cut back on consumption, other countries have increased demand (usage). Of course, there’s always a little price gouging going around. Also, the oil companies will keep prices at a certain price point where they feel people will continue paying as much as they can without reducing their amount of driving.
My personal solution….install a bunch of solar panels and buy a Volt!
+2
Jul 20th, 2012 (11:40 am)Kent,
I just returned to a three week tour of Alaska. I drove the Alaska highway through Canada on my return. Gas prices varied from around $4.40/gallon in Alaska to around $6.00/gallon, after converting the cost priced in liters,. Yet I was amazed by the number of motor-homes and large camping trailers that were on the highway, both in Alaska and in Canada. Apparently the price of gas has not gotten high enough to remove these gas guzzlers from the roads. I noticed that the price of diesel fuel was less the unleaded in most of the gas stations in Alaska and Canada. I thought paying about $60 to $80 to fill the tank on my Chevy Traverse was high until I glanced at the pump read-out of someone who just put fuel in a smaller motor-home and it read $286+.
+2
Jul 20th, 2012 (11:53 am)Dan Whitlock,
I wouldn’t be too surprised by what you saw. Of course, I’m assuming that those people in the RVs and campers are there on recreational/vacation trips and not driving those behemoths on a routine basis. I can see myself doing that on a road trip vacation, which I would expect to pay a lot for gas.
On a personal note, I have a 50-mile round trip commute, which I do by motorcycle at 45 MPGs. My wife uses our Volt for her 75-mile round trip commute (she can charge at work) using no gas at all. However, when we take our occasional road trips to Tahoe or Las Vegas, we use our Hummer. I don’t think I can ever get to the point of not using gas at all, but I have reduced my consumption significantly.
+1
Jul 20th, 2012 (11:54 am)“The tires did not squeal when pressing the accelerator down firmly from a standing start. That is due to the superbly controlled torque that prevented tire squeal from happening. The speed of acceleration became luxurious with the large padded steering wheel, a perfectly fitting seat back and the extremely quiet interior. Seeing the speedometer zoom up to 60 after 4.4 seconds was breathtaking. ”
I believe a little squeaking from the tires is needed for max torque to the road but… NICE..
DonC, exactly — but you forgot one. Huge, Expensive, and Fast! For the exec who has everything.
+1
Jul 20th, 2012 (12:09 pm)Dan Whitlock,
don’t feel bad , l was looking (just looking) up some snazzy yachts..$50-$100m….gas tank 202,000 liters!!!!
at $1.30/liter here in Canada….$262,000 yikes!!! imagine in Europe….
HaroldC
+2
Jul 20th, 2012 (12:12 pm)OT:
So is any one going to rent out their Volt?
——-
OnStar is teaming up with RelayRides so Chevrolet Volt and other GM vehicle owners can earn money by easily renting their idle cars to other drivers.
https://relayrides.com/onstar
http://youtu.be/RL6V6Y847LE
Jul 20th, 2012 (12:55 pm)Flagstaff? Don’t you mean Scottsdale (as it is stated in title of article)?
Jul 20th, 2012 (2:24 pm)Thanks JoMo25 for noticing the error. Jeff has been emailed to search and replace.
George, don’t go looking for the Tesla store on your ride this weekend!
Jul 20th, 2012 (3:32 pm)#25
Not in this life or the next, LOL.
+2
Jul 20th, 2012 (3:35 pm)#17
What makes you say that? My sense was just the opposite. Maybe it’s just because Mr. Fisker makes me even more nervous than Mr. Musk does, LOL.
+1
Jul 20th, 2012 (4:27 pm)MarkZ, how would you compare the Volt to the Tesla you drove? What if anything stood out as better, or even worse between the two cars. How would you compare how solid each felt, how nimble, how pleasant to drive, etc. What noticable differences in quality did you notice? I guess the question hanging over everything is, what makes the Tesla worth the extra $$?
Jul 20th, 2012 (6:28 pm)#23
Yeah, that’s about it IMHO. And needs some green cred at S.F. cocktail parties, LOL. +1
+4
Jul 20th, 2012 (7:48 pm)Stuart, that is the $64,000 question. It’s approximately what the extra cost is (compared with a Volt) for the Signature Performance Model S after adding all the taxes and fees! After the $40,000 deposit, the amount due on my order will be $79,604. That is for most every option except the rear facing child seats. Ordering the fastest red Model S was costly, unless one is willing to wait until 2013 for the regular production brighter red color.
As far as the vehicle is concerned, I have mentioned the wider front glass view, the extra seat comfort, double the acceleration, extreme quiet (except the tone sound at maximum acceleration) and the larger body style. Put the Volt in Sport Mode, “L” and enjoy maximum acceleration to experience an excellent feel that GM has manufactured into their E-Rev. Yes, the Tesla Model S is faster, but in town it really doesn’t matter. Where the added acceleration will be enjoyed is on the freeway when there is a need to speed up quickly. Trips over 40 miles will continue to be quiet and with full electric power. The features of the 17″ screen will be a treat (especially the map.) Overall the Model S feels great and don’t forget to check the Tesla web site for all the things I didn’t mention, like the door handles, key fob and charging options.
One other thought. If someone is considering a BEV, they should seriously think about spending the extra money for the 160 mile range Model S. Even the lowest priced Tesla will look and feel great. Having the extra range is a major plus when compared with the under 100 mile range BEV cars. For those who drive 40 miles or less between charges, then the Volt is an excellent choice.
+2
Jul 21st, 2012 (12:01 am)Thanks MarkZ for response, if I was working for the Cadillac division of GM, I would be very interested in your take on the Tesla in the most detailed way. Because you know the Volt and therefore are a credible source of comparative opinion.
With all their years of production experience and engineering/product testing knowhow, as well as their headstart in Voltec technology with the Volt, GM should be able to make the ELR the finest and most poised EV one could imagine driving. I’m hoping it will no less than match, and hopefully exceed the Tesla in performance and comfort, in driving ease and pleasure.
And may it cost somewhere south of Tesla’s longest range S.
+2
Jul 21st, 2012 (12:07 am)Ye Gods! I hope you meant “including” and not really “after.”
Of course, even $79.6k is a boat load of money. I really wish Tesla well, but they, just like GM, face a daunting cost reduction task ahead of them.
+1
Jul 21st, 2012 (4:25 am)I did purchase some extra items that were included in the amount due. Here are ALL the details and I am NOT subtracting any tax credit or incentive:
$105,400 Model S Signature Performance
$1,500 All Glass Panoramic Roof
$950 3M Paint Armor (factory installed – covers the front of the vehicle)
$1,200 High Power Wall Connector
$35 High Power Wall Connector Shipping
$990 Tesla Personal Delivery (everyone pays this price, even with factory delivery!)
$180 Final Inspection, Prep and Coordination
$8,545 Sales Tax
$797 Registration, Transfer and Titling Fees
$7 California Tire Fee
$119,604 GRAND TOTAL
If you want to include the rear facing seats, add $1,500 plus sales tax
You can create a less expensive design at Tesla’s web site. They subtract $7,500 tax credit from the price shown on their site, but it is included in the price you pay. Other incentives are available depending on the location of purchase.
http://www.teslamotors.com/models/design
Jul 21st, 2012 (12:01 pm)Dan Whitlock,
Why are you suprised? The cost of staying at hotels and eating out easily eclipses the price of fuel for a motorhome. Motorhomes typically get 7 to 14 mpg.
Jul 21st, 2012 (4:50 pm)Sounds like some car dealers I’ve seen that want to charge you for selling the car to you. Maybe customers should come up with some buyer’s assistance charges, which they never buy a vehicle without charging.
+1
Jul 21st, 2012 (11:29 pm)The personal delivery allows the customer to have the Tesla vehicle delivered anywhere they want. Some have chosen Disneyland while most will probably choose their home. The flat price is designed to allow the person living in Hawaii to not be overcharged when shipping the vehicle a long distance. I plan to be a bit creative and have it arrive at a scenic location for filming. Like a wedding, might as well choose a nice location for the “ceremony.”
I agree the inspection portion is frustrating. The registration and title is a DMV fee for the tag, plates and title. Gotta pay that one to be on the road in any vehicle.
Jul 22nd, 2012 (12:04 am)Mark Z,
That $7 tire fee is bullsh*t!!!
+3
Jul 22nd, 2012 (12:05 am)Oh, and I own a 2013 Volt now.
Pic’s to come
Jul 22nd, 2012 (2:56 am)Though I’ve been to Flagstaff before and unlike Phoenix it can get in the 30′S in the night while during the day in the 80′s or 90′s while Phoenix can be in the triple digits especially the 120′s thru the 130′s.
Though I’ve never experienced temperatures like that but maybe the 80′s or 90′s in March or April.
Still that’s summer for most of the country.
No wonder why electric cars might not be accepted there due to there harsh temperatures they get.
Or do you think it relates to politics as in the right wingers.
So which one do you think would prevent Tesla of not being able to sale in Arizona?
Extreme temperatures or politics?
Choose your side.
Just glad I don’t live in Arizona at all.
Jul 22nd, 2012 (9:22 am)2011 US Sales
BMW 247k
Mercedes 245k
Lexus 198k
Cadillac 152k
Lincoln 85k
Etc, etc
There is plenty of market for luxury cars in the world considering the numbers above are for the US only. Are luxury cars less or more likely to be in a multiple car household with plugin access? Are luxury sedans less likely or more likely to be needed for long road trips? Is it easier or harder to build a cost competitive luxury sedan vs economy sedan?
Tesla will do fine with their Model S as long as the reliability and build quality is good.
Jul 22nd, 2012 (9:57 am)That’s some good news, kdawg. Post some pics when you can.
Jul 22nd, 2012 (10:02 am)I think I’d choose Key West, FL. Never been down there and I hear it’s nice. However, then I’d have to setup hotel reservations (with L2 charging) for the next week to get it home to Pennsylvania.
Jul 22nd, 2012 (11:20 am)Smart-ass…..
Jul 22nd, 2012 (11:47 am)Ahhh, you ordered the signature model. Didn’t pick up on that.
Jul 22nd, 2012 (12:32 pm)The difference in price of the Signature Performance compared with a Performance with all the same options and metallic paint is $2,150. For that you get the Signature logo and some color choices that are not available after the Signature production run is completed. (The difference is only $1400 with the multicoat Pearl White paint.)
kdawg, looking forward to viewing the pictures of the 2013 differences. The $7 tire fee has a lot of law behind it. http://www.boe.ca.gov/lawguides/business/current/btlg/vol4/ctfl/ctfl-all.html
Sean, it’s not the temperatures. The Tesla reps at the store mentioned that they have a similar issue in Texas. Apparently some states don’t allow for a manufacturer owned car dealership. The customer can view the car at the mall store and then go home and log onto their computer to purchase. Tesla is working to get the issue resolved but you have to admit it’s refreshing to be able to visit a “showroom” and not be pressured into purchasing a vehicle.
+1
Jul 22nd, 2012 (1:47 pm)I was just joking. The $7 made me chuckle because the sales tax alone was more than a lot of people pay for cars.
I should have some pictures posted on Monday. I’m trying to remember what all the differences are. I know the hold mold is new. The paint setup is new also, but my Volt is black, so you wouldn’t have noticed anyway.
+1
Jul 22nd, 2012 (4:29 pm)Good for you and congratulations!
I still suffer from VES and I have to wait until October for my GM dealer to announce if they will have Volts for sale. No info on pre-ordering yet.
Raymond